Supreme Court - Biden on immunity ruling: "Dangerous precedent"
US-President Joe Biden criticized the Supreme Court's judgment on his presidency's immunity as a "dangerous precedent." "Today's decision means with near certainty that there are practically no limits for the actions of a President," said the Democrat during a hastily called address at the White House on Monday evening (local time). Every President - including his predecessor and potential successor Donald Trump - will now have the freedom to ignore the law, warned Biden.
The Supreme Court created a "fundamentally new principle" with its decision: The power of the Presidency will no longer be limited by laws, not even by the Supreme Court. "The only limits will be set by the President himself," warned Biden.
Trump scored a significant victory at the highest US Court on Monday. The Supreme Court ruled that former Presidents are shielded from prosecution for official actions while in office. The Constitution does not explicitly grant Presidents immunity, not even during their tenure. However, the Justice Department has traditionally held the view that Presidents cannot be indicted while in the White House.
Court decision delays trial start
With their decision, the Justices further delayed the start of the electoral fraud trial against Donald Trump. Now, a lower court must define for which actions Trump's immunity applies. It is considered very unlikely that the process in Washington will begin before the Presidential election in November.
Trump is accused of electoral fraud in the US capital in connection with the storming of the Capitol. Supporters of the Republican had stormed the Parliament building in Washington on January 6, 2021. Trump had attempted to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election against Democrat Biden and turn his defeat into a victory on various levels. A proceeding against Trump is also ongoing in the state of Georgia regarding attempted electoral manipulation.
Biden called on people in the US in his address to vote before the upcoming Presidential elections in November, without answering any questions about his candidacy. The 81-year-old found himself in a critical phase of his campaign after a disastrous TV debate performance in the previous week.
- Joe Biden, the US President, expressed concerns about the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity, calling it a "dangerous precedent."
- Biden argued that the Supreme Court's decision could give future Presidents, including his predecessor, Donald Trump, and potential successors, the freedom to disregard the law.
- In a hastily called address, Biden warned that the Supreme Court's new principle could lead to a situation where the President becomes the only limit to their own actions.
- The US President's comments came following the Supreme Court's decision to grant former Presidents immunity from prosecution for official actions during their tenure.
- The case against Donald Trump for electoral fraud in Washington has been delayed due to the Supreme Court's decision, with a lower court now tasked with defining the scope of Trump's immunity.
- The delay in the trial start has increased the uncertainty surrounding the November's Presidential elections, where Biden is expected to run again, as per the speculations for #USElection2024.
- As the 2024 elections draw near, Biden urged Americans to exercise their right to vote, avoiding any direct mention of his candidacy in his White House address.
